Expect a positive opening

Indian equities indices fell for a third consecutive week on Thursday on account of selling in Asian markets after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) slashed global growth forecast. Continuous outflow of money by FIIs; falling crude oil prices; dip in exports; and widening trade deficits; along with mute Q3 earnings also dampened the market sentiments in the last week. The market sharply bounced back on Friday due to a recovery in global crude oil prices; and due to expectations of additional stimulus by European Central Bank (ECB) to help struggling Eurozone economy. Sensex showed a marginal loss of 19.38 points and the Nifty 50 also eased by 15.35 points during the last week. On Friday, the Sensex jumped 473 points or 1.98% to end the trading session at 24,435 while the Nifty 50 ended the day at 7,422, gaining 145 points or 2%.

While broader markets underperformed, the Sensex with BSE Mid-Cap index also fell by 1.46 percent and 1.71 percent, respectively during the last week.

U.S. stocks closed higher on Friday and registered their first weekly gains in a month, that were helped by oil prices, which climbed back above USD 32 a barrel; and on the hopes of a stimulus overseas. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 210.83 points, or 1.3%, to 16093.51 on Friday, posting a 0.7% weekly gain. The S&P 500 gained 37.91, or 2%, to 1906.90, up 1.4% on the week; and the Nasdaq Composite jumped 119.12, or 2.7%, to 4591.18, posting  a weekly gain of 2.3%.

Crude oil prices surged higher on Friday, trimming steep recent losses as calm returned to global markets. WTI oil for March delivery surged up USD 2.65 or 9% to USD 32.19 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The European markets also showed substantial moves to the upside on Friday. While the French CAC 40 Index surged up by 3.1%, the U.K.'s FTSE 100 Index and the German DAX Index advanced by 2.2% and 2%, respectively. The Stoxx Europe 600 jumped 3%, putting its weekly gain at 2.6% and snapping a three-week losing streak.

Asian stocks gained early on Monday, following in the footsteps of the gains on Wall Street; and the gains can also be attributed to a surge in crude oil prices. Expectations of further stimulus measures by the European Central Bank and the Bank of Japan also boosted investor sentiment. Japan's Nikkei 225 jumped 1.44% after seeing an initial period of volatility. South Korea’s Kospi index climbed 0.97%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index advanced 1.26% and New Zealand’s S&P/NZX 50 Index gained 0.76%. Shanghai Composite index showed gains of 0.51%.

While on domestic front, A SGX Nifty 50 index future for January Series traded up 29.5 points at 7,456. Indian markets may open in the positive following other Asian markets. The week ahead would see FOMC meeting on Wednesday, with markets keenly weighing the prospects of the Fed continuing with the rate hike or not. Then later the RBI monetary policy decision will be scheduled in the first week of February.